Mommy's leaving....

Today we were very busy getting ready for Mommy's trip. We did, however, stop to take a short lunch break with Gerda. That was really fun. We had lunch at this place called the Blue Heron...and Mommy and Gerda could have a drink or something to eat and chat while I played in the grass. I did some swinging as well....which was VERY fun. And, I got to drink a little of Mommy's passion fruit juice from a straw....my first time using a straw. I was successful!!!

Then it was really just a whirlwind of a day. Mommy was trying to spend time playing with me since we won't get to for whole 2 weeks...but was also running from bank to bank trying to find an ATM that would work. Apparently, in America where we will eventually live, the ATMs work most of the time. She seemed to be getting very upset about the money thing. I wanted to say, "pole sana" to her...but I was afraid she would really blow a fuse if I did.

We also didn't take any photos today. Mommy had to charge the battery to her camera today so she can take it with her on her trip...which meant no photos. It was a welcome change as far as I'm concerned.

So, you'll have to wait for 2 weeks to see another shot of my handsome mug....but don't worry. I'll still be here, I don't plan on going anywhere for a nice long time. In the meantime...Happy Holidays to you all....see you in the New Year!!!!

shipment

Our stuff arrived today. Mommy was in such a happy mood because our stuff finally got here. We aren't really unpacking it until she gets back from her trip. We had the movers put it all in the back room and we will just lock it all up in there until she gets back. Mommy was really happy because some of the stuff she had in the shipment is warm clothes and things for travelling...so it all arrived just in time.

We had a fun time opening up the boxes. We have only opened about half of them and will look through the rest tomorrow. Mommy was especially delighted to find her birthday surprise from her family tucked inside. There was a lamp shade in the Netherlands at a local shop near her house that she loved....but she didn't think she should buy it since she was moving away for a while and it would be too hard to transport. She has NO idea how Bestamom and Uncle Topher managed to smuggle it home and then put it in her shipment without her suspecting a thing....but she was surprised and thrilled to find it in her shipment today!

Here I am helping Mommy unpack. We had a fun time....singing and playing with Twiga and unpacking. I'm going to really miss Mommy....but I have a feeling she's going to miss me even more!

musical meals

Today is Thursday. The computer was back this morning. Whew! There was a moment when Bestamom stopped talking and we had to call back. She said she broke her phone....which is some bad news. She had to get on the downstairs phone and I really hope she can fix her upstairs phone. I've never seen it but my Mom says its red and cool and a nice phone from Pottery Barn (a store I've never been too, but my Mommy assures me that I will be seeing plenty of when we go back to the US). Anyway.....I'm glad my morning started off talking to my Bestamom through the computer....it's a fun way to start the day.

Otherwise, it's just been a regular day. Mommy and I have got a schedule down and its pretty fun. I wake up at around 6:30 and have a bottle of milk and talk to my Bestamom for a half hour or 45 minutes. Then, around 7:30 or so, I have to entertain myself and play with Twiga while my Mommy gets ready for work. Around 8:30 I have breakfast and then around 9 Mommy and Twiga and I go for a walk in the garden. Then, around 9:15 Mommy has to go to work. I hate that part, and I let her know it....I cry when I see her heading for her car. (don't worry....I stop crying right after she leaves....I just like to let her know that I'm not too happy with her leaving). Around 10:30 I go for a nap and around 12:30 my Mommy comes home from work and gets me up. Then she gets my lunch prepared and I eat. After lunch, Mommy Twiga and I usually play out in the yard...we throw the ball for Twiga, we usually go down to visit Tembo the goat and give him a pet, and we usually swing for a bit in the hammock and sing a song. After a while, my Mom has to go back to work...and just a few minutes after that, I have to go down for my afternoon nap. I sleep from 3 to 4pm. At 4 I wake up and have a bottle of milk and at 5:30 or so my Mom comes home. Again she gets dinner ready for me, and I eat. Then we get to play again for a while and around 7 I get to take a bath and play in the bath with my fun sponge toys and brush my teeth. Then, Mommy gets pjs on me and we read a story or two....and then we sing a good night song and it's off to sleep and the day is over. It's a pretty good schedule and I'm pretty happy throughout the day.

I've been giving Mommy a hard time with my food lately. I have been rather picky. Today, Mommy went all out! She made mashed potatoes, broccoli soup, broccoli with rice potatoes and peas, and a squash dish with squash and potatoes. Plus, I had mangoes and bananas for a dessert. I didn't want to like my food, but I couldn't help myself. I would eat about 5 bites of a dish before I remembered to HATE it and refuse to eat it. Then, Mommy would move on to the next dish....and so on and so forth. In the end, I ate a whole lot of food for dinner...and Mommy seemed very smug! I don't know how I let this happen....but don't worry, she may have won today's battle, but the war is still on!

3 big events and 1 non-event

Today I had some interesting things happen. One of the most interesting thing that happened, started with my morning...and it was actually what didn't happen. Mommy and I have a morning ritual. We start our day on a happy note (I'm a happy boy in the morning and I never wake up crying. I just wake up happy and wait for my Mommy to come in and get me. When she shows up in the morning, I'm usually just playing in my crib and singing). Then I have a bottle of milk and we talk to the computer for a half hour. Mommy calls it my Bestamom and Grandad. I don't know....it looks like a computer to me. But, the cool thing about the computer is that it seems to know my name and it talks to me and tells me that it loves me and sends me kisses. I think that is very cool and I am very interested and recognize my name. But, today...it didn't happen. Mommy and I still had fun playing around....but I missed the computer/Bestamom. I hope she comes back tomorrow.

So that was my non-event of the day. In other events we had visitors at lunch today. Mommy came home first and I had lunch and we sang and swung in the hammock. Then, Mommy's friends Rupa and Howard stopped by to meet me. They were really nice. I was a little wary, but that is just because I'm feeling like being with my Mommy all the time right now. But, I could tell that they were really cool people. AND, they brought me one of my most fun toys ever. Mommy says I'm going to treasure this toy forever and ever. It is a wooden elephant made here in Tanzania. It rolls on the floor and when it moves its head and trunk move too! It's super cool and fun and my Mommy thinks its really beautiful. What a thoughtful gift! Thank you to Rupa!

Tonight we had quite an event. On her way home Mommy had done some grocery shopping. (she is stocking up so that there is food and water in the house for Twiga and I while she is gone). After being home and playing with me for a while Mommy went outside quickly to get a bag from the car. When she came back to the door, she couldn't open the screen door. I played a very funny trick on Mommy. I had managed to lock it from the inside! There is a latch on both the outside and the inside. Mommy didn't know that I was so good at latches. She was getting pretty worried on the outside of the door. She was trying to pretend like it was fine and we were just playing a game....but I could hear in her voice that she was a little worried. She also wasn't so sure that I understood as much of what she says as I do. But, when she told me that I needed to unlock that door....it took me a few times of trying to get the latch undone, but I definitely understood what she was saying and I unlocked the door and let her in. I wanted to have fun, but I didn't want to make her too too worried. She was pretty proud of me for unlocking the door. She swung me around and cheered....I don't know why she was so excited, I knew I could do it all along.

Anyway...I was just having fun. While my very sunny disposition has returned today (the hitting has disappeared today and I don't feel as cranky as I have the past few days), I have definitely decided that I'm not interested in proteins or veggies. Last week I loved them....this week though,....I'm refusing to go near them. I still want to eat a lot of food.....just not proteins or veggies. I am loving all fruits (apples, apricots, strawberries, mango, banana, raspberries, peaches, pears) and I still love my yogurt and my milk bottles, and I LOVE my morning cereal (Mommy usually mixes in a bit of yogurt and some fresh raspberries.....it's the best way to start the morning ever). I love to eat brown bread, and I love cooked apples and strawberries. But, my Mommy struggled to get even just a few bites of squash, potatoes, and rice in my tummy, or broccoli, peas and beans in my tummy. just don't want them. But, one of the things that Mommy bought today was a mixer, so I am hoping that she is getting ready to make that broccoli soup that I love so much from Dirk and Inneke's house! Stay tuned for that tomorrow. In the meantime, don't worry that I'm starving....I'm stuffing my face with bread!

A Visit to my Friends....

Today at lunch Mommy took me back to Cradle of Love for a short visit. We had a nice time. I am so happy to have a home with Mommy and Twiga, but I do miss my friends sometimes. It might not always appear as though I miss them since I've taken to hitting everything is sight these days, but I do miss them. I have just had so many changes in the past month, and it's hard because I can't express myself with words just yet and don't understand quite everything that people are saying...and it's just really frustrating. I don't mean to be bad, I'm just confused. I'm definitely going to grow out of this phase with a little determination and some redirection from Mommy!

In any case...it was so fun to see everyone. Mommy took pictures (as usual) and she talked to Devona for a bit. She is worried because she has to leave next week for a while...and she is not able to sleep and very worried about leaving me alone. But, after talking to Devona she is feeling a little better about leaving. My Bestamom says its ok too. I don't think anyone has talked to me about this. I do not think it is a good idea at all. I like it when my Mommy is home.

In fact, today was little sad....Mommy and I didn't have too much time for playing. At lunch we were a bit rushed to get lunch finished and to get out to Cradle of Love (we had to deliver our Christmas gift) and then Mommy had to head back to work. By the time she got home, it was time for dinner. And, boy was I a picky eater tonight. I would not eat any of the dishes that we had prepared except for the apples/strawberry sauce that Mommy made and some Farley's cookies. And, because I was so picky it took a really long time to eat dinner tonight and so bath time was right after dinner. Mommy and I only had a few minutes at the end of the day to spend quality time together. I hope we have more time together tomorrow.

Week 2

So, today it is 2 weeks since I moved home. It sort of feels like I've always lived here. Life is pretty usual now. And, I am a pretty happy boy. I also think I have a pretty happy Mommy. She seems pretty happy....she sings to me a lot and we play alot. And, today she took me to a big building and we went on some scary elevators to her work. I just have to say....it's REALLY hot in her office! I don't know how she goes and works there.

Before we went to her work, she came home for lunch and we ate (well, I ate....Mommy doesn't have much time for eating lunch these days...but I'm noticing her clothes fitting a little looser and she's happy about that!). After we ate, we played outside with Twiga for a little bit. Twiga had fun. She would run to the bottom of the garden and when we called she would run back! Here is photo of her running to us after we called.

And, here is a photo of her guarding us while we played. She really loves us and is always making sure we are safe.

Here is Mommy and I swinging in our hammock! I love swinging and singing with Mommy.

I hope you all have had as good a lunch today as I did!

Sunday at home with the family

My Mom thought that with all of the excitement of late and the fact that she has to leave next weekend for a week and a half...it would be really nice to spend a Sunday at home...just Twiga, Mommy and I. So, we had a nice day playing at home. We went grocery shopping but otherwise...we were at home. I had a little bit of time out....but only twice when I hit Twiga. And, I had lots of playing....and lots of hugs and cuddles with Mommy and playing outside with Twiga.....and reading books. In general it was such a nice day. I hope that there are so many more to come!

Here is a photo of me in time out. This is my unhappy face! (Can you believe that my Mommy actually had the nerve to take a photo of me as she was putting me into time out!)

Here I am having lunch

And, here I am reading

I'm getting more steady on my feet every day. Today I only need to be holding on with one hand to stand up and walk. Just wait Mom....I'm about to walk myself silly....

All the learning I'm doing...

Today, I think I may have learned my lesson. Don't tell my Mom though...because I'm thinking of unlearning the lesson for tomorrow's fun. My Mom has been putting me in 1 minute time outs when I hit people or the dog or play with the electronic equipment by the TV. I had about 5 time outs today for messing with the electrical TV stuff. I don't like them. At first I just laughed at how angry my Mom looked....it didn't seem to make her any less mad though...in fact, she may have gotten even more angry when I laughed at her. In any case, the thing is....I stopped laughing and started crying when I figured out that I had to sit in a room by myself in my high chair for a whole minute alone. And so, by this evening I had figured it out. When I head for the TV, and my Mom says, in that warning tone of voice, "Aki...Noooo".....I just stop, turn around and go to the toys I'm allowed to play with. It just seems easier that the whole time out business!

I'm also having so much fun imitating my Mom's sounds. She sings me this song about Ants marching a lot. And, when she sings, "hurrah, hurrah!" I do too! And, when she sings " boom, boom, boom" I do too! And, tonight, when we were playing in the bath with my toys and she told me that one of them was a turtle, I said, "turtle". I'm starting to get this talking thing. My legs need a little more strength before I'm ready to stand on my own....but that is getting there too. I mostly need to get my weight up and keep eating all that good healthy food. But, the talking....I'm having a fun time learning to talk like my Mom....she's afraid that if I start talking she might never get me to stop!

The most important event of the day

Ok, I actually forgot the most important event of the day! This morning while my Mommy was getting ready for work, I climbed on top of her carry on suitcase. It is really high off the ground, like maybe even a whole foot! Anyway....it was fun to climb up, but then I wanted down and I didn't know what to do. So, I screamed bloody murder for my Mommy....and she refused to help me! Can you imagine???? She came and sat down about 3 feet away from me...and wouldn't help me at all. She just told me to figure it out for myself. Man, I was mad! I wanted her to pick me up off of that suitcase...but she just wouldn't. Finally, I figured out that she was simply NOT going to help me...and I was going to have to figure it out myself. So, I tried a few things, but none of them felt comfortable...and then, I finally decided to turn around to sit on my bum...and then I slid off the side until my feet touched the ground and I was up and off that suitcase. My Mommy went wild....she picked me up and spun me around and clapped and cheered. It was sooo fun. So, when the celebration was over and she put me down and went back to getting ready for work...you know what I did....I climbed right back on top of that suitcase. Only now, I know how to get down! It's the most fun game!!!

A day of Twists and Turns...

Well today really tested my Mommy and me. But, I think in the end, we passed with flying colors.

The first thing big that happened in our day is that I went down for my nap around 10:30 as usual and at around 12 noon (a half hour earlier then I normally get up from my nap) my Mommy woke me up and told me that I had visitors. It was strange to see Mommy home at that time of the day....usually she has to be at work. She took me out to the living room and my birth Mom and my two half brothers were there. I guess they showed up around 11:30 when my Mommy was at work, and the Gardener, David, called my Mommy and told her to come home because my birth family was here. So, anyway.....I didn't remember them and my birth Mom wanted me to be with her and I was confused about who she was...and I was confused about why my Mommy wasn't taking the lead like usual. It made me upset and I cried a lot which seemed to upset my birth mom. They were nice to me though....and my Mommy took a lot of photos of my half brothers playing with me. They are 6 and 7 years old. The oldest is Arnold and the middle one is David. They were really very nice boys...and my birth mom was nice too. I was just a little confused and I wanted my Mommy because of all the excitement and I didn't understand why she wasn't coming to save me. And, I could tell that my Mommy was feeling a little badly as well. I don't think she was expecting the visit and is a bit worried that my birth family might just show up un-announced on a regular basis and upset my schedule. My Mommy can't come home from work all the time when the come by....so scheduled visits would be much better. And, I don't know if my Mommy realized until that very moment how much she had fallen in love with me. She was very good at making everyone feel at home and getting food and drinks for everyone and showing them how to play with all my cool stuff....but I could tell that underneath it all, she was not feeling very good and felt horrible that I wasn't comfortable and was crying for her. She felt doubly bad....bad that I was upset and she wanted to save me, and bad for my birthmom because she could see that it was hurting her feelings.

Finally, after a few hours I was getting really crabby and my Mommy knew that I had been woken up early from my morning nap and I hadn't had my lunch and it was getting close to my afternoon nap...and I really needed to get going. So, she told my birth family that I needed to have lunch....and they stayed and watched me eat. Then, we played a little more but then my Mommy had to tell my birth family that I needed to take a nap....so we all said goodbye and I went down for my nap.

While I was asleep, the next intense thing in our day happened. My Mommy fired Kesia. I think that was also making her very upset during my birth families visit....she had been gearing up for days to fire Kesia today and an unexpected visit was not in her plans. When I woke up, it was over. She was a little shaky.....but it was over! And, Mommy's friends have been so good today...calling all day and evening to make sure we fee safe in the house tonight alone etc. We're feeling pretty ok....I don't think that anyone will do anything bad to us....and anyway, I'm not worried. After today, I know for sure that my Mommy loves me to the moon and back and would never let anything happen to me. I feel safe with her.

So, after getting me up from my nap, it was time for some serious fun! I went to my first baby group meeting today. It was at Inneke and Ella's house....where I went last weekend, so I already knew Ella. But there were lots of other kids there as well. And, lots of Mom's. We played in the grass and even went swimming in the pool. I loved going in the pool with my Mommy when she was holding on to me. Then, she tried to put me into this inner tube sort of thing and I really freaked. I wanted my Mommy! So....we floated again for a while and then tried again. I was tentative...but my Mommy stayed right next to me the whole time and then I felt ok about it. So, we had a really fun time at baby group playing with lots of other kids....and I ate a piece of popcorn for the first time! Some of the other babies seemed to get some chocolate cold substance....but my Mommy didn't let me have any. And, a few Mommy's suggested to her to get me a pacifier....I don't know what that is, but it sounds cool to me....my Mommy didn't take the suggestion though....sometimes she is a real stick in the mud! Ugh!!! She's lucky I still love her.

Well, after ALL that excitement....we came home to have a very normal dinner. I finished my tofu and vegetable casserole....which I LOVE and then had some butter dal....and then had a fun bath and teeth brushing session and didn't even make one sound of a fuss when my Mommy put me down tonight. I am pooped! What a day.....we were tested, but my Mommy and I came out on top!

A swing in my own back yard!

I discovered the most fun thing ever in our backyard today at lunch. Mommy came home for lunch and playtime in our backyard. After lunch, we were throwing a ball with Twiga and then I saw this rainbow rope contraption hanging. I don't know why I haven't noticed it before....Mommy says its been there the whole time! Anyway....she took me for a ride on it. Oh, how fun it is to sit in Mommy lap and swing away in our very own hammock!

I have also figured out that I love my Mommy's constant attention. And, when she won't give it to me, I plan on getting it anyway I can....even if that means doing something that I know is wrong. It's still to be determined how this game is going to play out! Stay tuned....but the good news is that my Mom told me today that no matter what, whether I'm good or bad or laughing or crying....she will ALWAYS love me!

Important statistic

I just thought I better remember to tell you all this. Mommy hasn't figured out how to get my height quite yet (lacking a measuring device) but she weighed me on her friends scale (because my Mom's shipment from the US STILL hasn't arrived, though it is SUPPOSED to be on a 14 Dec flight over here....but she is very skeptical of that). Sorry, I had to throw that it, she never stops talking about, so I have to hear it all the time!

Anyway....at 15 months I weigh 9 kilos or 19.8 pounds. This means I'm underweight for my age...and need to bulk up. I'll be working on that in the coming days...and I'm looking forward to it....bring on the food!!!!

Happy Birthday to me!!

It's my 15 month birthday today. Unfortunately, it was a rough day. My Mommy kept calling me a cranky pants.....but she was wrong. She was the cranky pants. Mommy had a migraine today. And, I've never seen her with a migraine. Usually, she is fun and funny and laughing and singing. But, today she just was very quiet. I wanted her attention and she wasn't giving it to me. On top of that....we've just spent 4 fun days together all day having fun. Today, Mommy had to go to work and leave me for part of the day. I didn't like that so much. So, I had to do something. I looked at her and headed right for the TV box which I know I'm not allowed to play with. She told me no. I looked at her and smiled and then went over to the box....made sure that she was watching and then hit it as hard as I could. It got her attention. She wasn't smiling and laughing and singing....but she gave me attention! And, that was how our day went.



















Near the end of the day, I saw her decide to put the effort in. Even though her head really hurt, she decided to try as hard as she could to turn the negative around. At the start of our dinner...it was tough....I wanted to hit the spoon, which I know makes her mad, and spit the food out of my mouth....and she was constantly mad. Then, she decided to turn the negative around to the positive and to sing (like she usually does) and tickle my feet and everytime I opened up and took a big bite....she gave me fun encouragement! I laughed....my Mommy was back! Who can be a bad eater when you are having so much fun!! I hope she learned her lesson....I don't care if her head is exploding....it's easier to be fun and nice than to hear my scream my head off with a migraine.

Happy Birthday to me....I'm a genius!

smarty pants

This morning I was playing and my pj pants bottoms were really impeding my movement. I wanted them off. My Mommy was no help....she just told me that if I wanted them off, I needed to figure out how to get them off myself. She made me so mad at her refusal to take my pants off that I decided to show her.

I got them off! Mommy was proud of me for persevering and figuring out how to take off my pants and she called me a smarty pants. For a second I was confused and thought she meant that my pants were exceptionally smart. I decided to put them on my head in case they might impart some wisdom to me!

I quickly figured out though...I'm smarter than my pants!!!

A day of firsts....

Today was a day of firsts....and oh my was it fun!

I had my first play date today. My Mommy and Inneke planned a lunch date for our families at Inneke, Dirk and Ella's house. I really really liked Ella. I even keep trying to say her name. We had our moments of frustration with each other, but we really didn't want to separate and enjoyed playing together very much.

I also had broccoli soup for the first time, and will never again be interested in the boring old food that Mommy makes me.

I went swimming for the first time. I generally love the water and today was no exception. I got a little nervous toward the end....but generally I really love swimming. Mommy got video of Dirk taking me swimming around the pool....but it's too hard to load from this terrible connection here, so we'll have to make due with the photos and see the video of my first swim another time.

It was also the first time I skipped my afternoon nap. By the time we had gotten home from our play date, Mommy had her first migraine since I came to live with her....and I was cranky and loud. So, I ate a quick dinner, had a quick bath and went to bed!

What a fun day! Thanks to Dirk, Inneke and Ella!! I hope we'll have a play date again soon....you are welcome to our house anytime (I'm sure Mommy will agree with me).

1 week down....

.....A LIFETIME to go. Well, so far I think I'll stick with the Bowman family. Just could someone explain to my Mom that I like hitting people and dogs and I want to continue it. If she could just accept that I'm not going to stop doing that we'd be fine. For some strange reason she is just determined that I not hit Twiga. Other than that small battle we're doing well.

In one week I have learned to pull myself up and be as mobile as possible on 2 feet. I can't quite walk without help yet as I still have some balance issues....but I'm getting ingenious at finding things to hold on to in order to move around on my own two feet. I'm talking up a storm....I'm still using my own special language....but I've really got it developed quite extensively at this point. You guys should really learn my language in fact, it is very advanced. Plus, if my Mom could just understand what I'm saying maybe I wouldn't have to hit everything in frustration!

Today my Mom had the day off. She had scheduled a manicure and pedicure with a friend for my morning nap time....but when she went to the shop, it was closed for the Tanzanian national holiday. So....that didn't work out too well for her! hahaha.....

I, on the other hand, have had a fabulous day. I've played with Twiga and Mommy most of the day, had lunch outside on the grass with toys....and then in the afternoon I went to visit my friends at Cradle of Love. I had such a fun time seeing everyone. A special shout out to the Director, Devona, because today is her birthday! My Mommy says that Devona and another volunteer Katie might come to see where we live and visit our home. I hope they come....it's so fun to see them. I also got to see all my old caregivers. I loved seeing them, and they were happy to see me too! It's good to be missed. All my friends were there and I played with them. My Mom talked to another lady that was there playing with my friend, Prince. That lady might adopt him....she is trying to make a decision and to make the best one possible. I heard my Mommy talking to her and telling her that she wasn't too sure about me when she first saw me at Cradle of Love, but now she can't imagine that I could ever be any other Mommy's kid but hers. I can't imagine another Mommy (other than my Birth Mommy....who I also love). So, I guess we are pretty lucky. But, my Mom also told that other lady that it was fair to take the time and think about it. It's a big responsibility and you have to be sure you are doing the right thing for both yourself and for the baby that you might take. I hope everything works out that lady and Prince.

So, happy birthday Devona and happy one week anniversary to my Mommy and me!

****A wonderful volunteer from Cradle of Love emailed my Mommy with photos of me from this past summer. I am so happy to have some photos from my 9th through 12th months of life....since my Mom wasn't around to take them of me. Thank you so so much Ilse....not only for the photos, but also for volunteering and spending time and loving me.

Worn out

This post is not as much about me today as it is about my Mom. She is already looking rather Mom like, and it's only been 6 days. I have yet to hear the sound of a blow dryer since I moved into my new house and my Mom's hair that I used to play with when she came to visit me at Cradle of Love is no longer down and able to play with, but perpetually up in a pony tail. I saw her put some makeup on for a work meeting that she went to on Friday, but I haven't seen so much as a touch of lip gloss since then. And, someone might need to give her some fashion lessons....I haven't known her for long, but the last 6 days....she doesn't really match. She just seems to pull whatever is on top out of her drawer and through it on. hmmmm.....

She is tired. I am hoping that she learns how to juggle life with me with a presentable look so I don't have to become embarrassed by my Mother. And, she may need to figure out how to take time out to get to the gym during the week! Someone out there....give her some tips!

In other news....we played outside this afternoon. Mommy brought out my toys, and we played. Twiga was mostly disgusted with both of us and laid in the dirt to cool off.

The weekend....

I like the weekend. I don't have a job and I don't got to school....but the weekend is cool. My Mom is more relaxed and we do more fun things. This may also be because we were finally able to obtain a car seat today. My Mom borrowed her friends car with a car seat in it to get me from the Cradle of Love home to my current home....but then I've been stuck in the compound the rest of the week...which means, of course, that so is my Mom! Today we were liberated. We did some errands together and I met some people. My Mom liked that....she is very proud of me. Which she should be of course....I'm extraordinary. My Mom was looking back at photos of me over the last week with her friend Gerda who came to visit today....and she was telling Gerda how far she thinks I've come in just a week. I, of course, think that she has come far in now recognizing all the amazing things about me that she has been able to find over the course of the week. They were there all along..she just needed to SEE them.

My Mom's friend Inneke also came by today and I met her. That was very fun...she's a really nice woman. She has a daughter who is a bit younger than me....and we have a play date planned for Monday or Tuesday...which I'm looking forward to. It's time to meet some new people my own age!

My Mom also made this observation today. She was talking to the cook, Gaspar who comes to our house three days a week and makes really good meals for my Mom and me. She was working in the house on her laptop and had me on the veranda in my jumpy chair and was watching me through the screen as I sang and bounced and entertained myself for about 45 minutes. She was telling Gaspar how impressed she was and how that was one thing that she really liked about African children....there is no time here for children to be entertained 24/7. Here, kids have to learn to entertain themselves and we don't have access to fancy games, videos and toys....we just have to find other ways to be entertained....and guess what??? WE DO! We don't actually need all that stuff....we can play outside and make up games and use creativity or just make up a tune and bounce to it for 45 minutes. My Mom was impressed with this....but I just think it's the normal thing to do. Plus, I'm a happy guy....I've got a new family...what's not to sing and bounce about???

Here is a photo study called "Akira eats breakfast" My Mom's favorite is my scrunchy face. I make it when I'm really playing and having fun....she's so glad she caught it on camera when I was eating breakfast!